Greta (NSW)

Greta lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Greta's population is estimated at around 3,642 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 293 people (8.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,349 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,361 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on June 2025, and an additional 72 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 175 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development in the suburb of Greta (NSW). Greta's 8.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of NSW (4.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing the suburb of Greta (NSW) in the top 10 percent of national regional areas. The area is expected to grow by 1,510 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 33.8% in total over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Greta when compared nationally

Greta has experienced approximately 25 dwelling approvals annually, with a total of 126 approved between the financial years FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 24 in FY-26. Each new dwelling has resulted in an average of 2.4 new residents over these five years. The average construction cost for new homes is $462,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

This year, $3.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the rest of NSW, Greta has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 79th percentile nationally. The area's building activity consists of 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character. This is a shift from the current housing mix, which is 96.0% houses.

Greta reflects a developing area with around 143 people per approval. By 2041, Greta is projected to grow by 1,229 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth.

Greta has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact the area significantly due to their influence on local infrastructure. Key projects include AVID Waterford Community Extension - Chisholm, Wyndham Street Bridge Replacement in Greta, Anvil Creek Urban Release Area development, and West Street Greta Shared Pathway Construction Program. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.9%, Greta has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Greta's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate, as of December 2025, stands at 3.9%, matching Regional NSW's rate. Workforce participation in Greta is lower at 56.8% compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%.

A low 11.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Major employment industries are mining, health care & social assistance, and construction. Mining is particularly strong, with an employment share 5.9 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.2% compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by a lower working population than resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Greta's labour force decreased by 8.7%, while employment declined by 9.0%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Greta's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for local population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that in Greta, median income is $52,071 and average income is $64,089. This is below the national median of $52,390 and average of $65,215 for Regional NSW. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, estimated median income in Greta as of March 2026 would be approximately $57,445, with average income at around $70,703. Census data indicates that incomes in Greta are at the 55th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 36.3% of individuals (1,322 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the regional figure of 29.9%. Housing costs consume 15.2% of income in Greta, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 62nd percentile nationally.

Greta is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Greta's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. This is compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Greta stood at 25.6%, with mortgaged properties at 54.2% and rented ones at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Greta was $360, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Greta's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were less at $375.

Greta has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.1 percent of all households, including 38.6 percent couples with children, 25.2 percent couples without children, and 11.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.9 percent, with lone person households at 21.2 percent and group households accounting for 2.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Greta faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.4%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.2%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 46.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (7.8%) and certificates (39.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Greta indicates that there are currently 33 active transport stops operating within the area. These comprise a mix of train and bus services. In total, these stops are serviced by 42 individual routes, collectively facilitating 603 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Greta is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 282 meters from their nearest transport stop. As primarily a residential area, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation, used by 98% of residents.

Vehicle ownership averages at 1.8 per dwelling in Greta, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect the impact of COVID-19 conditions on work patterns. The service frequency across all routes averages approximately 86 trips per day, equating to around 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Greta is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges for Greta based on AreaSearch's assessment as of August 2021.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting a wide range of health conditions that impact both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is higher than average at approximately 52% of the total population (~1,904 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 10.4 and 9.5% of residents respectively, while 65.3% reported being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW as of June 2021. The working-age population faces significant health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. As of August 2021, the area has 13.9% of residents aged 65 and over (506 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW as of June 2021. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population as of August 2021.

The latest Census data sees Greta placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Greta's population showed low cultural diversity, with 92.4% born in Australia, 94.7% being citizens, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 56.0%, close to Regional NSW's 55.9%. Ancestry revealed Australian (32.1%), English (29.9%), and Irish (7.9%) as top groups.

Notably, Polish (2.2% vs regional 0.5%), Australian Aboriginal (6.1% vs 4.6%), and Maori (0.9% vs 0.3%) were overrepresented.

Greta's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age in Greta is 33 years, which is considerably lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and substantially under the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Regional NSW average, the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Greta at 15.3%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 7.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has grown from 3.7% to 5.4% of Greta's population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 14.7% to 13.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Greta, with the 25-34 group projected to grow by 38%, reaching 770 people from the current 557.